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Speaking on the official site, Britton declared ” I’ll go back to West Ham for pre-season and speak to Glenn Roeder about the situation. I don’t want to go back and be playing reserve team football, taking a backward step in my career now that I’ve been playing first team football in the Football League. If that’s what’s going to happen then I’ll be looking to go out on loan again right at the beginning of the season. ” I love it down here, the fans are quality, I get on well with all the players and the coaching staff and I’ve settled in the area with my girlfriend. If Brian Flynn did come back in for me in the summer I’d obviously have to have a major think about it but I wouldn’t see a problem with coming back. ” Fighting for a place in the first team at West Ham is the aim though, but it is hard as they’ve got so many quality midfielders there. Obviously, the first and foremost thing is to make it with them, if that doesn’t happen, I’ll take it from there.” |
I can see most of Britton’s future at West Ham depending on whether they stay in the Premiership. Relegation will almost certainly cost them the services of both Joe Cole and Michael Carrick and Britton may find that the door to first team football opens up for him. However, a place in the Premiership and the Hammers could hold onto their prize asset and Britton could be on his way. |
Of course his performances whilst at the Vetch will have made people sit up and take notice but Britton is aware that the fans have a high opinion of him. ” To win an award like the PFA one is a tremendous honour, especially as it’s voted for by the supporters. Hopefully, it will make a few people back up at West Ham sit up and take notice. ” said Britton of the recent award of PFA player of the month for the Third division. |
Britton was aware of the task he was taking on when he agreed to join Swansea but believes that he has made an impact which will hopefully keep the Swans up come May 3rd ” I knew when I came here that it was a massive task. I looked at the table after we’d just beaten Shrewsbury 2-0 and it wasn’t a pretty picture. Obviously, coming down here I’ve had to toughen up, it’s different from Premiership Academy football, but like I said when I first came here, I was ready for the fight and I hope I’ve proved that to the fans and the coaching staff here. ” Despite being small, I’m not going to shy out of any tackles, if there’s a ball to be won I’m going to show the fans that I’m not scared. If it’s a 6ft 4 player I’m going to get stuck in, that’s just part of a midfielder’s game.” |
Whilst I am sure that most Swansea fans will want Leon to remain at the Vetch next season we also have to accept that he is destined to play at a level higher than the Third division. There is a chance, I believe that he will be at the Vetch next season but as mentioned above I believe that it could well be dependent on where West Ham find themselves playing football next season. |
Even if they remain in the Premiership I believe there is a chance that Leon could find himself at a first or second division club but let’s hope that he enjoys his experience in Swansea so much that he wants to repay the faith that we showed in him when we bought him here. |
Leon is without a doubt one of those quality midfielders that West Ham have a tradition in bringing through the ranks and, as with Frank Lampard, at least we can say that we have seen a future star in the making. Let’s hope we get some more time to appreciate this next season. |
Click Here To Read The Full Interview With Leon |
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